DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis

Iontophoresis Protocol: DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis

DeQuervain's is a stenosing tenosynovitis, involving the ab­ductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons. where they pass through the first compartment of the wrist. Inflammation of these tendon sheaths results in constriction of the tendons as they cross the distal end of the radius within the first compartment (the radial border of the anatomical snuff­box).

Typical Dispersive Pad Site

Typical Drug Electrode Site

Extensor pollicis lon«us tendon

Extensor pollicis brevis tendon

Abductor pollici loncus tendon

Activities that overuse the thumb through repetition or when the thumb is fixed and the wrist overstressed (baseball, jav­elin. hockey) or direct trauma will result in deQuervain's. Commonly, there is disabling pain, felt most severely near the styloid process of the radius, and local swelling. Pain is severe on movement of the wrist and thumb, especially on ulnar deviation with thumb and little linger opposition. Discomfort may be felt in the thumb and into the wrist and forearm. The thickened tendon sheath can be fell as a tender, hard nodule over the radial styloid process.